Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
  • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
  • B65D43/0204—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections
  • B65D43/0212—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
  • B29C45/14336—Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/56—Stoppers or lids for bottles, jars, or the like, e.g. closures
  • B29L2031/565—Stoppers or lids for bottles, jars, or the like, e.g. closures for containers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
  • B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
  • B65D2543/00074—Shape of the outer periphery curved
  • B65D2543/00092—Shape of the outer periphery curved circular
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
  • B65D2543/00231—Overall construction of the lid made of several pieces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
  • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
  • B65D2543/00268—Paper
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
  • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
  • B65D2543/00296—Plastic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
  • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
  • B65D2543/00314—Combination, e.g. laminates, several different materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
  • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
  • B65D2543/00527—NO contact
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
  • B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
  • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
  • B65D2543/00611—Profiles
  • B65D2543/00638—Rolled edge
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
  • B65D2543/00601—Snapping means on the container
  • B65D2543/00675—Periphery concerned
  • B65D2543/00685—Totality
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
  • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
  • B65D2543/00722—Profiles
  • B65D2543/0074—Massive bead
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
  • B65D2543/00592—Snapping means
  • B65D2543/00712—Snapping means on the lid
  • B65D2543/00787—Periphery concerned
  • B65D2543/00796—Totality
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
  • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D2543/00953—Sealing means
  • B65D2543/0099—Integral supplemental sealing lips

Definitions

• This invention relates to lids for containers and especially to composite-type lids formed from a combination of paper and plastic materials.
• Containers used for packaging foodstuffs, as well as other products for retail sale must perform several functions.
• the container must hold the product, must allow the product to be transported effectively from the manufacturer to the point of sale and from the point of sale to the consumer, must often serve to dispense and store the product after acquisition by the consumer and, no less importantly, must identify the product and its source and serve as an advertising medium to promote further sales.
• Lid designs currently in use comprise an injection molded plastic skirt surrounding a paperboard center.
• the plastic skirt fits over the end of the container, engaging the end and/or sides, thereby sealing the container and providing a means for retaining the lid in the closed position.
• Plastic is used for the skirt because it is inexpensive, easy to mold, resilient, impervious to freezing, thawing and moisture and relatively rigid.
• the skirt is the portion of the lid which sees the most abuse during the life of the container, and the above noted qualities of plastic allow the lid to maintain its shape and hold together to continue to effectively close the container despite the adverse environment and repeated handling.
• a problem with the composite lid design described above is that the graphics are confined to the paperboard center portion of the lid and do not extend continuously over the plastic skirt.
• the absence of graphics over a portion of the container is unacceptable to many product manufacturers who want a container which can receive print media over the entire outer surface without interruption.
• Such continuity is important for the proper presentation of trademarks and trade dress which are vital to customer recognition of a particular product from among the many competing products displayed side by side in the typical retail sales environment.
• There is clearly a need for a composite lid design combining the robustness and durability of the plastic skirt with the ability to receive high quality graphics continuously over the entire outer surface of the lid without interruption.
• This invention provides a lid for a container comprising a primary panel forming the center of the lid.
• the primary panel has an outer perimeter and a plurality of secondary panels, each of which is joined continuously to the primary panel at the perimeter.
• the secondary panels are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the primary panel and extend to one side of the panel. Each secondary panel also has an inside surface facing toward the center of the lid. Both the primary and secondary panels are preferably formed from a material receptive of a print media such as paperboard.
• the invention further comprises a skirt oriented substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the primary panel, the skirt having a face attached to each inside surface of the secondary panels.
• the skirt is formed from a relatively rigid material, preferably plastic resin such as polyethylene, polystyrene or polypropylene and supports the secondary panels.
• the primary and secondary panels are formed from a unitary blank in which each of the secondary panels comprises a first sub-panel joined directly to the primary panel along a first fold line.
• Each of the first sub-panels is disposed adjacent to a neighboring first sub-panel and has two oppositely arranged side edges which are in abutting relationship with a side edge of one of the neighboring first sub- panels.
• a second sub-panel is distally joined to each first sub-panel along a second fold line.
• Each of the second sub-panels is disposed adjacent to a neighboring second sub-panel and has two oppositely arranged side edges, each of which is angularly displaced from a side edge of one of the neighboring second sub-panels.
• the first sub-panels are folded along the first fold lines in overlying relationship with an end of the skirt proximal to the primary panel thereby covering the end.
• the second sub-panels are folded along the second fold lines into overlying relationship with the skirt, thereby covering it.
• the second sub-panel side edges are brought into abutting interengagement upon folding to form a continuous surface on the skirt.
• the skirt and panels are joined together by forming the skirt from an injection moldable plastic which adheres to the secondary panels, thereby holding the secondary panels substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the primary panel.
• the primary and secondary panels have a surface compatible with the plastic resin forming the skirt which fuses with the skirt when the skirt is formed during the injection molding process.
• the compatible surface could be formed, for example, by a plastic resin coating, such as a thermoplastic.
• the skirt further forms a sealing surface interengagable with the container to which it mates.
• the lid also has a bar which extends around the perimeter of the primary panel on the inside of the lid, the bar being attached to both the primary panel and the skirt.
• the bar has a relatively substantial cross-sectional area formed during the molding process by a cavity in the mold.
• the cavity is designed to promote flow of the plastic resin around the entire mold by offering a path of minimal resistance, thus, insuring proper distribution of resin and a completely formed lid.
• the bar also serves to stiffen and strengthen the lid.
• the bar is attached to the skirt by a plurality of integrally molded spokes which extend between the two parts. For a round lid, the spokes extend radially of the lid.
• Sealing of the lid to the container is effected by a plurality of elongated sealing ribs extending from the inside surface of the skirt (the surface opposite the face covered by the secondary panels) .
• the sealing ribs are arranged intermittently along the skirt parallel to the primary panel in a spaced apart relationship adjacent to one another. The sealing ribs are engagable with the container lip and provide a sealing interface between the lid and the container.
• the invention also includes a method of making a lid for a container as described above.
• the method according to the invention includes the steps of:
• the secondary panels are joined continuously to the perimeter of the primary panel, and both are formed from material capable of receiving a print media. During the folding step, the secondary panels are folded to one side of the primary panel and have a surface facing the center of the primary panel. The steps form a lid having a continuous outer surface capable of receiving print media.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a composite lid according to the invention as seen from above;
• Figure 2 is a plan view of a paperboard blank used in forming the composite lid shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the composite lid shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of an injection molding apparatus used to form the composite lid shown in Figure 1, the section of the lid being shown in the molding apparatus being taken along lines 5-5 in Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 in Figure 3;
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 7-7 in Figure 3.
• the secondary panels 14 are oriented substantially perpendicularly to the plane of primary panel 12 , the plane being indicated by the imaginary reference axis 18. Secondary panels 14 extend to one side 20 of the primary panel 12, thereby defining the inside of the lid. Each of the secondary panels has an inside surface 22 facing toward the center of lid 10, that center being indicated by an imaginary reference axis 24.
• lid 10 has a skirt
• Skirt 26 which extends circumferentially around the lid and is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the plane 18 of primary panel 12. Skirt 26 has an outwardly directed face 28 which is attached to the inside surfaces 22 of the secondary panels 14, the skirt serving to support the panels and define the overall shape of the lid 10.
• the primary and secondary panels 12 and 14 are made of a material such as paperboard which has a surface capable of receiving a print media for the imprinting of high quality graphics.
• Skirt 26 is preferably formed of a plastic resin such as polyethylene which is relatively rigid and capable of withstanding harsh environments such as repeated freezing, thawing and exposure to moisture without losing structural integrity. Using plastic resin also allows the skirt to be injection molded, as described in more detail below.
• Figure 4 shows further details of the lid such as bar 30.
• bar 30 extends circumferentially around the lid and is attached to the inwardly facing side 20 of the primary panel 12 at the perimeter 16.
• bar 30 has a relatively substantial cross-sectional area 32 which facilitates the distribution of plastic resin to all parts of the lid during the molding process and also serves to reinforce and stiffen the lid at the perimeter 16 of the primary panel 12.
• Figures 3 and 4 also show spokes 36 which extend radially between bar 30 and skirt 26.
• Spokes 36 are arranged circumferentially around the lid and provide a series of discrete connections between the bar and the skirt. The spokes strengthen the connection between the bar and the skirt, thereby reinforcing the lid, while using a minimum of plastic resin, thus, lending economy to the lid design.
• Figure 7 shows a cross- sectional view of a typical spoke 36 which is preferably integrally formed with skirt 26 and bar 30. Spokes 36 also facilitate injection of the plastic resin during the molding process as described below.
• Figure 4 also shows means for engaging the end of a container to removably attach the lid and provide a seal between the lid and the container.
• a plurality of raised elongated segments 38 are arranged circumferentially around the inside surface 26a of the skirt 26 at spaced intervals.
• segments 38 extend radially inwardly and have a distal end 40 interengagable with a lip 42 on the end of a container 44, the container being only partially shown in Figure 6. Segments 38 retain the lid 10 to the container 44 by bearing against lip 42. Both the lip and the segments are flexible and resilient, however, allowing segments 38 to pass over and deflect the lip when a predetermined force is applied to the lid. Thus, the lid can be repeatedly removed from and replaced onto the container 44 as desired, but the lid will resist inadvertent separation from the container due to the interengagement of the segments 38 with the lip 42.
• skirt 26 varies in thickness around the lid, the skirt being thickest at regions denoted by reference character 50 located at spokes 26 (seen in cross section in Figure 7) and thinnest at regions 51 located midway between the spokes, and illustrated in cross section in Figure 6. Varying the thickness of the skirt minimizes the use of plastic resin without compromising the structural integrity of the skirt.
• Thicker skirt regions 50 are located relatively to secondary panels 14 so as to underlie seams between adjacent secondary panels formed by abutting edges 60a and 60b, best seen in Figure 1 and described in detail below. The thinnest sections of the skirt underlie the center of secondary panels 14.
• the skirt 26 and the secondary panels 14 complement each other to provide strength and rigidity to the lid. Where the skirt is weaker, as at 51, the secondary panel is continuous, and where the secondary panels are weaker due to the presence of a seam, the skirt is relatively thicker, as at 50.
• Ribs 46 extend radially inwardly from the inside surface 26a of the skirt 26 and are preferably arranged adjacent to one another in a plurality of rows extending longitudinally along the skirt, parallel to the axis 24. The rows of ribs are arranged circumferentially around the skirt at spaced intervals over the thinner skirt regions 51. Each rib 46 has a distal edge 48 which extends to approximately the same inner diameter as the skirt inside surface 26a in the thicker skirt region 50. Thus both the skirt inside surface 26a at regions 50 and the distal edge 48 of ribs 46 form a continuous means for frictionally engaging lip 42 on container 44 to provide a continuous seal between the lid and container.
• Figure 8 provides a flow chart describing the basic steps comprising a preferred method for making a lid according to the invention. As seen in the flow chart, primary and secondary panels are provided, the secondary panels are then folded perpendicularly to the primary panel, and plastic resin is injected onto the secondary panels to form the skirt.
• each secondary panel 14 also has a second sub-panel 14b distally joined to a first sub-panel 14a along a second fold line 58.
• Second sub-panels 14b are disposed adjacent to neighboring second sub-panels, and each has oppositely arranged side edges 60a and 60b.
• Side edges 60a and 60b are angularly displaced from adjacent side edges 60b and 60a, respectively, on neighboring second sub- panels so that when the second sub-panels are folded along second fold lines 58 the edges 60a and 60b of neighboring second sub-panels 14b will be brought into abutting interengagement as seen in Figure 1 to completely cover skirt 26.
• the primary panel 12 and the first and second sub-panels 14a and 14b form a substantially continuous outside surface 62 of the lid 10 for receiving imprinted indicia.
• the plastic resin is injected onto them to form the skirt 26.
• the secondary panels are folded to one side 20 of the primary panel 12 presenting inside faces 22 for accepting the injected resin.
• the preferred method for adhering the skirt 26 to the secondary panels 14 is to coat the blank 52 with a thin layer 61 of the same or a compatible material as is used to form the skirt.
• the molten resin will fuse with the material coating the blank, thus, attaching the skirt 26 to the secondary panels 14.
• the same technique is used to attach bar 30 to primary panel 12 and allows the lid to be formed economically in an injection molding process without the need for special jigs, tooling and adhesive which other methods require.
• Both the folding and injection steps take place in a mold 64, shown in partial section in Figure 5.
• the mold has a cavity portion 66 and an interfitting core portion 68 which, when interfitted, define a void within which blank 52 is placed between the mold portions which fold the blank substantially to its final shape when interfitted.
• the resin is then injected into the mold forming the skirt and other resin portions of the lid. It is preferable to inject the resin from one or more points adjacent to the outside surface 62 of the lid because this simplifies the design of the mold.
• the outside surface 62 is usually defined by the cavity portion 66 of the mold 64 and is typically free of cooling ducts and other components and therefore presents a cleaner, less complicated path for the injection of the resin, than, for example, a path directed through the core portion 68.
• each gate 70 is aligned with a selected pocket 78 (see Figure 5) .
• the pockets 78 comprise part of the mold void and form the spokes 36 when the resin is injected.
• the spokes 36 are connected to the bar 30, which implies that the pocket 78 is connected to a part of the mold void 79 shaped like a channel (see Figure 5) which is disposed circumferentially around the lid 10 to form the bar 30.
• This mold configuration ensures that resin is reliably distributed to form a high quality lid.
• the invention thus combines dissimilar materials in the form of plastic resin and plastic coated paperboard to each material's inherent advantage to provide a composite lid which is economical to produce, robust, impervious to harsh environments, and has a continuous outer surface over the entire lid capable of receiving a print media for the display of high-quality graphics depicting the trademarks or trade dress of a manufacturer, making the product held in the container closed by the lid immediately recognizable amid the confused jumble of a retail display.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=23654068

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (34)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (32)

• 1999
  • 1999-10-13 US US09/417,442 patent/US6196451B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2000
  • 2000-09-29 EP EP00967116A patent/EP1392566A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-09-29 WO PCT/US2000/026854 patent/WO2001026976A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2000-09-29 AU AU77365/00A patent/AU7736500A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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